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THE NEWS: 

The predictably bumpy first day of virtual school in the D.C. region was marred with tech snafus. While some students had trouble logging onto virtual learning platforms, others still don’t have the devices they need. The hotline D.C. students and parents were told to contact with tech issues received 3,000 calls, DCist reported.

Education reporter Perry Stein tweeted the latest distribution numbers: D.C. has delivered 18,900 devices as of Monday. There are about 52,000 students in DC Public Schools. Meanwhile, neighboring Montgomery County gave out 160,000 laptops since the pandemic, and Prince George’s County handed out about 85,000 devices. But students are still enrolling this week, and DCPS says it had enough devices to meet the demand.

The head of the Council of School Officers union, Richard Jackson, placed some blame on Mayor Muriel Bowser for delaying her decision on how to reopen schools.

“It was catastrophic,” Jackson told the Post. “No one will say we could not have really used those two weeks.”

As students, parents, and teachers adapt to the new reality of virtual learning, some appear willing to let the bugs get worked out.

—Mitch Ryals (mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)       

City Desk will return next week.

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Mayor Muriel Bowser pointed the finger at “outside agitators” for the unrest in downtown D.C. over the weekend. [DCist, Post]
  • Bowser also said federal prosecutors were slacking. The Trump-appointed acting U..S. Attorney Michael Sherwin didn’t appreciate that. [Twitter]
  • Former U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jessie Liu joins the firm Skadden Arps. [National Law Journal]
  • Bowser will join most states in asking for supplemental federal unemployment funds. [Post]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly plays a big role in the D.C. region’s thriving Filipino restaurant scene. [Eater DC]
  • This season of Chef’s Table is all about barbecue. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • National Mall art installation “Society’s Cage” depicts anti-Black racism with steel bars. [DCist]
  • New book Who Gets In and Why, by D.C. journalist Jeffrey Selingo, takes a deep dive into college admissions. [Washingtonian]
  • Jessika D. Williams thrills as Othello at American Shakespeare Center. [DC Metro Theater Arts]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The NFL has taken over the investigation into the Washington Football Team’s workplace culture and the harassment allegations against the team detailed recently in the Washington Post. [WTOP]
  • In many ways, John Thompson earned his towering reputation, and he leaves behind an immensely important legacy. [The Root, NPR, The Ringer]
  • Day 2 of the fan-less U.S. Open will include matches from locals Frances Tiafoe and Denis Kudla. [USOpen.org]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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